Control Method and Device for Quasi-Uniaxial Sun Chase of Solar Panels

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a control method and device for quasi-uniaxial sun chase of solar panels. The present method uses uniaxial driving to perform real-time tracking of the zodiacal longitude position of solar “daily periodic change”, then abiding by seasonal “annual periodic change” to perform tracking fine tuning of less 0.25 degrees per day on celestial sphere declination. The present device includes a supporting unit with two corresponding holders on the end face, a frame body for solar panel installation configured between the said two holders, and a control mechanism including a setting unit as well as an enable unit connected to the frame body. Thereby, in addition to real-time correction to the corresponding position of the solar panel to Sun by setting the control mechanism to allow the solar panel to acquire higher incident solar energy. The present invention provides a simple device structure with lower operation power consumption.

This application claims the priority benefit of the Taiwan application serial No. 097120945 filed on Jun. 5, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a control method and device for quasi-uniaxial sun chase of solar panels; and more particularly, to a control method for performing real-time correction to the corresponding position of the solar panel to face the sun to allow the solar panel to acquire higher incident solar energy, and a simple structure of a solar device and reduce operational power consumption.

2. Description of Related Art

The solar panel in a conventional solar energy generating system is generally installed at a fixed angle, and as it does not acquire vertical incident Sunlight, thus the utilization efficiency of incident energy from Sun can not be maximized causing the problem of low power generation amount.

Although several types of Sun chase mechanisms have been proposed in the industry so as to drive the solar panel to precisely collimate face the Sun, which have been actually applied to many solar energy generation products, however, since these mechanisms need to employ bi-axial, or even tri-axial driving mechanisms. Although such types of multi-axial Sun chase mechanisms usually increases the daily power generation amount of the solar panel, however the manufacturing cost of the multi-axial Sun chase mechanism is expensive. Besides, the mechanism itself has to bear the heavy weight of the solar panel, and therefore to achieve the said objective of exact Sun chase, multi-axial driving mechanisms usually incur higher power consumption, which may perhaps exceed beyond the increased amount of power generation amount contributed by the precise Sun chase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Inasmuch as the defects found in the prior art, the present invention has paid thorough and prudent attention to the solar motion track viewed from Earth on various latitudinal areas, in each season of a year and at different time in a day, realizing that there exist constant rules for solar motion track variations in celestial background; if such rules can be fully exploited, currently used multi-axial driving mechanisms can be effectively omitted, and only the use of uniaxial tracking mode is required to achieve the same Sun chase precision as what multi-axial tracking mechanisms can provide.

Therefore, the main objective of the present invention is to provide a quasi-uniaxial mechanism including a real-time tracking corresponding to daily periodic change of sun. The squasi-uniaxial mechanism includes uniaxial driving and tracking fine tuning on annual periodic change to make the solar panel precisely face the sun.

Another objective of the present invention is to use the setting of the control mechanism to correct the corresponding position of the solar panel to face the Sun in real-time, such that the solar panel can acquire higher incident solar energy.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a simple device structure capable of consuming lesser operation power.

To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the present invention provides a control method and device for positioning the solar panels to face the Sun, comprising a supporting unit having two corresponding holders on an end face thereof, a frame body configured between the two holders with the solar panel installed therein, and a control mechanism comprising a setting unit and an enable unit, which can be adjusted to a preset angle according to the longitude/latitude of the location of the device, and adjust the setting unit to cause the enable unit to drive and rotate the frame body at about a predetermined rotation angle rate, for example 15 degrees per hour, so as to rotate the solar panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state of a device in use according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for celestial bodies according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state of a device in use according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method for driving the device quasi-uniaxially to position the solar panels to face the sun may be described as follows.

First, a supporting unit 1 is provided, wherein the supporting unit 1 comprises a base 11, a movable stand 12 and two holders 13, a frame body 2 installed between the two holders 13. The frame body 2 is movably installed with a solar panel 3 configured with the horizontal axle 31, and a control mechanism 4 comprising a setting unit and enable units 42 and 43 is disposed on one of the holder 13. The enable units 42 and 43 are connected to the frame body 2 and the horizontal axle 31 and adjusted to a preset angle θ by means of an adjusting knob 14 according to the longitude/latitude of the location of the device. Meanwhile, an electric power unit 5 (e.g. indoor power, batteries or electric power generated by the solar panel 3) may be used to supply the power for operating the setting unit 41 and the enable units 42 and 43 in the control mechanism 4.

Next, the default values in the setting unit 42 configured within the control mechanism 4 is adjusted to allow the enable unit 42 to rotate the frame body 2 by, for example, 15 degrees per hour and thereby rotate the solar panel 3.

Next, another enable unit 43 is set to rotate the horizontal axle 31 by, for example, 0.0107 degrees per hour to rotate the solar panel 3 according to the settings in the control mechanism 4 to correct the corresponding position of the solar panel 3 to face the sun 6 on real time basis so that the solar panel 3 can acquire higher incident energy from the sun 6, and since the enable unit 43 moves the horizontal axle 31 in fine motion, it is possible to achieve the effect of quasi-uniaxial sun chase at a lower operational power.

The default values of the setting unit 41 are directed to the prescriptions made based on the orbit of earth revolution about the sun and periodicity of earth rotation. Solar motion tracks against the sky viewed from the terrestrial surface located at different latitude can be generally categorized into three types of astronomical effects, respectively: “daily periodic change” within 24 hours (i.e. the phenomena of sunrise and sunset); “annual periodic change” within 365 days (i.e. seasonal variations), as well as less significant and negligible “precession and notation” of terrestrial spin axis.

FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively illustrate a stereo perspective view and a block diagram of the present invention. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a supporting unit 1, a frame body 2, a solar panel 3 and a control mechanism 4 for correcting the corresponding position of the solar panel 3 to face the sun by setting the control mechanism 4. Furthermore, the present invention provides a simple device structure and reduces operation power consumption.

The above-mentioned supporting unit 1 comprises a base 11 and a movable stand 12 movably jointed with the base 11. Besides, two corresponding holders 13 are disposed on the end face of the movable stand 12.

The two ends on the frame body 2 are respectively and movably connected to a holder 13. The solar panel 3 is pin-jointed to a horizontal axle 31 and movably installed in the frame body 2.

The control mechanism 4 comprises a setting unit 41 and two enable units 42 and 43 connected to the setting unit 41, wherein the enable unit 42 is connected to the frame body 2 and the other enable unit 43 is connected to the horizontal axle 31, thereby using the enable units 42 and 43 to respectively drive the frame body 2 and the horizontal axle 31 so as to rotate the solar panel 3, and allowing the solar panel 3 to revolve to a suitable angle to desirably face the sun. As such, the above-mentioned structure can constitute a new control device for quasi-uniaxial sun chase of solar panels, wherein the said enable units may be stepping motors or fine-tunable driving motors.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for celestial bodies of the present invention. Since the sunrise/sunset phenomena seen on Earth are the result of terrestrial rotation, a day is usually defined as the duration between two consecutive passes of sun through the meridian in the sky, i.e. so-called a solar day, then further dividing such a duration into 24 hours; therefore, in terms of the track of Sun against background sky, the average moving rate is 360 degrees/24 hours, that is, 15 degrees/hour. As such, the setting unit 41 can be set to employ the enable unit 42 to rotate the frame body 2 at a rate of 15 degrees per hour.

However, in addition to the terrestrial rotation, Earth also revolves about the sun, and one cycle of such a revolution is defined as a “year”, approximately 365.25 days on average. If we refer the orbit plane on which Earth revolves around the sun as a “zodiacal plane”, it can be found that the rotation axle of Earth and normal direction of this plane “zodiacal plane” form an angle, also known as the “inclination angle of Earth rotation axis”, approximately 23.5 degrees. Such an inclination angle causes sunlight to directly illuminate at the terrestrial surface of Northern hemisphere in summer, but ray slantwise in winder, creating the seasonal variation of “cold winter/hot summer” on Earth. For example, supposing now we are located at 30 degrees at northern latitude, we can find, in different seasons, the positions of Sun with respect to zenith at 12 o'clock at noon are, respectively: slightly to north from zenith by (30−23.5) degrees on summer solstice; slightly to south from zenith by (30) degrees on both spring equinox and autumn equinox; and slightly to south from zenith by (30+23.5) degrees on winter solstice. This relation illustrates, in terms of solar “seasonal variation period”, the change rate is about 4×23.5 degrees/365 days, equal to 0.0107 degrees/hour. Therefore, the setting unit 41 can be set to allow the other enable unit 43 to rotate the horizontal axle 31 by an angle of 0.0107 degrees per hour to achieve the effect of fine tuning, providing the function of quasi-uniaxial sun chase.

In summary, the control method and device for quasi-uniaxial Sun chase of solar panels according to the present invention, in addition to real-time correction on the corresponding position of the solar panel to face the sun by setting the control mechanism in order to allow the solar panel to acquire more incident solar energy, a simple device structure and lower operation power consumption thereby making the present invention more advanced, practical and conforming to user's demand, which meets the long felt need.

However, the aforementioned descriptions illustrate only the preferred embodiments according to the present invention, which should not be used to restrict the scope thereof, therefore, all equivalent changes and modifications conveniently made based on the claims of the present invention and contents of the disclosed specifications as above should be deemed as being encompassed by the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF COMPONENT SYMBOLS IN DRAWINGS

-   1 Supporting Unit -   11 Base -   12 Movable Stand -   13 Holder -   14 Adjusting Knob -   2 Frame Body -   3 Solar Panel -   31 Horizontal Axle -   4 Control Mechanism -   41 Setting Unit -   42, 43 Enable Unit -   5 Electric Power Unit -   6 Sun

DESCRIPTION OF MAJOR COMPONENT SYMBOLS Assigned Major Diagram: FIG. 2

-   1 Supporting Unit -   11 Base -   12 Movable Stand -   13 Holder -   14 Adjusting Knob -   2 Frame Body -   3 Solar Panel -   31 Horizontal Axle -   4 Control Mechanism -   41 Setting Unit -   42, 43 Enable Unit 

1. A control method for quasi-uniaxial sun chase of solar panels, comprising: providing the supporting unit, comprising two corresponding holders on an end face thereof, and a frame body being movably installed between the two holders, a solar panel being installed in the frame body, and a control mechanism having a setting unit and enable units installed therein for adjusting the supporting unit to a preset angle based on a longitude/latitude of a location of the device; setting default values in the setting unit, allowing the enable unit to rotate the frame body by a first angle per hour to rotate the solar panel; and pin-jointing the solar panel to a horizontal axle for being movably installed in the frame body, and the control mechanism being connected to the horizontal axle through the other enable unit, further setting default values in the setting unit to rotate the horizontal axle at a second angle per hour to rotate the solar panel.
 2. The control device for quasi-uniaxial sun chase of solar panels according to claim 1, wherein the first angle comprises 15 degrees.
 3. The control device for quasi-uniaxial sun chase of solar panels according to claim 1, wherein the second angle comprises 0.0107 degrees.
 4. A control device for quasi-uniaxial sun chase of solar panels, comprising: a supporting unit, comprising a base and a movable stand movably jointed to the base, wherein two corresponding holders are installed on an end face of the movable stand; a frame body, comprising two ends respectively movably jointed to the holders; a solar panel, movably installed in the frame body by being pin-jointed to a horizontal axle; and a control mechanism, comprising a setting unit and at least one enable unit connected to the setting unit, wherein the enable unit is connected to the frame body, and rotating the frame body at a first angle per hour in order to rotate the solar panel.
 5. The control device for quasi-uniaxial sun chase of solar panels according to claim 4, wherein the supporting unit can adjust the base and the movable stand to preset angles based on the longitude/latitude of the location of the device.
 6. The control device for quasi-uniaxial sun chase of solar panels according to claim 4, wherein the first angle comprises 15 degrees.
 7. The control device for quasi-uniaxial sun chase of solar panels according to claim 4, wherein the solar panel can be pin-jointed to a horizontal axle for being movably installed in the frame body, and the control mechanism is connected to the other enable unit to rotate the horizontal axle at a second angle per hour to rotate the solar panel.
 8. The control device for quasi-uniaxial sun chase of solar panels according to claim 7, wherein the first angle comprises 0.0107 degrees.
 9. The control device for quasi-uniaxial sun chase of solar panels according to claim 4, wherein the enable units comprise stepping motors or fine-tunable driving motors. 